Use Magic Device: Keep or Kill?

[Roman]

Out with UMD!

 

[bmcdaniel]

Kill it as a skill. Make it a power for Rogues.

 

[Wormwood]

Kill it as a skill. Make it a power for Rogues.

Why only Rogues?

 

[kennew142]

I voted kill it, but I believe that this quote says it all:

Would the UMD skill even have a purpose in 4E? Wands and staves are implements now, not items that store spells, so UMD wouldn't help a rogue with those anymore. I don't think we have heard a single mention of scrolls. The difference between martial powers and arcane powers is no longer so absolute as it once was, either.

I think UMD doesn't need to be killed directly. The rest of the system changes already starved it to death.

Rogues could originally use scrolls because the Grey Mouser could do it. Of course, he had wizard training.

 

[Raduin711]

I don't mind the idea of "I am going to use this magic item designed for another class, but there is a real possibility of this failing, or going haywire, but I am desperate and going to try anyway".

I do mind the idea of "I have maxed out ranks in UMD and feats to boost it so no matter what magic item I pick up I can use it because I am teh awesomer than joo."

So, I don't know. Using Magic Devices you aren't trained for by your class should be a crapshoot at best.

I am also not crazy about "pretending to be another alignment" or "pretending to be another race". I think if a magic item can tell your race or alignment, I don't think there is much you can do to fool it by handling it a different way or saying things in a different way. "Thinking LG thoughts" is a laughable idea at best. "Thinking Elvish thoughts" is even worse.

But this is just the way I see it.